Voting machine



p 1944. A. N. GUSTAV-SON 2,358,922

VOTING MACHINE Filed Nov.,2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l I In Hm! 7 5/0/7172 as/021x02 Sept. 26, 1944. GUS'iAVSQN 2,358,922

' VOTING MACHINE Filed Nov; 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum? "Ml;

5/0/71 W. C aw/awe?! Patented Sept. 26, 1944 VOTING MACHINE Alvin N. Gustavson, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Automatic Voting Machine Corporation,

Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 2, 1939, Serial No. 302,575

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in voting machines and more particularly to a mechanism for nullifying an improperly cast ballot.

In elections for representatives to general assembly, representatives to conventions, or other ofiice group elections, there are always more candidates seeking nomination or election than there are oifices to be filled. It has been found that a minority group of voters, by prearrangement, could in part at least defeat the purposes of an election of this nature by casting ballots for a lesser number of candidates than the number of ofiices in an office group. To prevent such practive laws have been enacted which in substance state that a voters ballot is invalid if he has failed to'indicate his preferance for the same number of candidates as there are offices in a given group. been so arranged that a voter could not register his ballot Without first complying with the above mentioned laws. 'In some elections there are candidates seeking nomination or election to other ofiices as well as those in an oifice group, and a voter, having properly indicated his ballot with respect to these, is thus prevented registering any part thereof if he has failed to comply with the requirements in connection with balloting for candidates in one or more ofiice groups.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a mechanism in a voting machine that will nullify all improperly cast ballots, including those for candidates in one or'more ofiice groups, without affecting the voter's ballot with respect to other candidates, and this therefore constitutes one of the objects of the invention.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanism for a voting machine that serves to return certain candidate indicators to non-voting position during the operation of registering other indicated votes.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanism for a voting machine that is operable to return certain of the voting indicators to non-voting position at commencement of the registering operation, provided a voter has failed to comply with such voting requirements as the mechanism is capable of controlling.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Figure v1 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective View of the rear of a voting machine in which is embodied one form of the invention,

Voting machines have therefore parts being broken away to disclose connection between the machine operating lever and the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the invention as applied to a voting machine showing the position assumed by the movable parts when the operating lever is in the dotted lineposition of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are vertical end views taken substantially as indicated at line 44 of Figure 2 and illustrate three operating positions of the mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal View of part of the mechanism, parts being broken away to disclose certain details of structure;

Figure 8 shows the position assumed by the movable parts of the mechanism when the operating lever is in the full line position of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 illustrates the method of assembling certain parts of the mechanism.

Reference is now had particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings wherein the numeral H3 is employed to generally designate the invention which, in its present form, includes an auxiliary interlock l I. The interlock comprises a pair of spaced vertical plates l2 and [3 that are connected by spacer blocks I4. Projecting vertically through the blocks M are rods IS, the lower ends being fitted with bases IS. A spring [1, encircling that portion of the rod between the block l4 and base l6, yieldingly extends the rod to a limit determined by a pin l8. Projecting laterally from the outer face of the plate l3 are lugs l9 having slots 2| formed in their upper edges. The slots are adapted to fit the under edge of the front plate 22 of a main interlock 23. The rods l5 serve to secure the interlock H in engagement with the main interlock 23 substantially as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that inwardly opening grooves 24 are formed in the plates l2 and I3 and that the ends of suitable rollers 26 are mounted in these grooves, being movable lengthwise of the interlock. At one end of the interlock is a U-shaped shoe 2'.', the edges of which are carried in the grooves 24. A grouping pin 28 may be projected through a pair of aligned openings 29 in the plates l2 and l3 for the purpose of preventing movement of the rollers 26 in a direction other than toward the shoe 21. Projecting outwardly from the. plate I2 are pins 3| that may be fitted with spacer collars 32.

A member 33 is carried by pins 3|. This member terminates in depending ends 34. The ends 34 are formed with rectangular slots 33 that, in the present disclosure, are of a width substantially twice the diameter of pins 3|. to support the member 33 for limited vertical and lateral movement, the extent of which being controlled by the size of slots 36. Generally centrally of themember 33 is a depending strap 31 that terminates at its lower end in a horizontal lug 38. This lug projects through a slot 39 in the lower edge of the plate l2, the relative width of lug and slot being comparable to that of pin 3| and slot 36. Attached to the inner face of plate 22, adjacent lug 38, is a pin 4|. A spring 42 is secured at its ends to lug 38 and pin 4|, the posi- These pins serve' tion of these parts being such that the spring a normally urges the member 33 upwardly and to one side, the extent of movement being controlled by the pin and slot structures 3| and 36.

For convenience of assembly, the member 33 may be formed in two parts (see Figure 9), and includes a bar 43, having vertical and horizontal flanges 44 and 46, which is adapted to be mounted on and secured to the member 33. Two or more rotatable pins 47 are secured to the outer face of the member 33. These pins are formed with narrow heads 48 and are rotatable with respect to the member 33. Openings 49 are made in flange 44 of bar 43. These openings are of elongated shape and adapted to receive the heads .48 of pins 41. With the heads projected through the openings 49, they may be rotated to assume the position indicated in Figure 2. Adjacent the ends of the bar 43 laterally directed lugs 5| are provided, the purpose of which will be subsequently brought out. At one end of the member 33, optionally integral therewith or with bar 43, is a horizontal flange 52 that terminates in a depending strap 53. The strap projects into the open end 54 of the U-shaped shoe 21.

As is common in interlocks such as the interlock 23, straps 56 are provided, having enlarged ends 5? that project between pairs of rollers 53. These straps include lugs 59 to which auxiliary interlocking straps 6| may be attached. The

auxiliary interlocking straps 5| are formed at their lower ends with enlarged portions 62 that project between pairs of rollers 23. A short space vention is applied, inasmuch as such structure is wellknown in the art. It is pointed out, however, that each main interlocking strap 56 is directly connected with a voting indicator on the face of the voting machine and that as the indicator is operated the corresponding strap 56 moves upwardly, carrying with it an auxiliary strap 6 l.

Secured to the frame of the voting machine, and located adjacent one end of the interlock l l, is an upstanding bracket 64. A laterally directed arm 66 mounts one end of the shaft 61 that, as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, parallels the interlock I I. This shaft may extend the full length of the machine, being supported at the other end by a further arm, not shown. Mounted on theshaft Bl are arms 68. These arms extend laterally into close proximity with the flange 44 'of bar 43 and, in inoperative position, overlie there are as many as may be required for the lugs 5|, are clamped to the shaft in any suitable manner so they may be adjusted to be aligned with the lugs 51 at whatever position the auxiliary interlock ll may be mounted on the main interlock 23.

Adjacent the supporting arm 66, the shaft 61 carries a further arm 69 that is pivotally joined to the lower end of the twisted link "I I The other end of link H is pivotally joined to an arm 72 of a bell crank 13 pivotally supported by the bracket 64. The other arm 14 of the bell crank is fitted with a pin 16. A vertically positioned bar Ti terminates adjacent the bracket 64, being provided with slots 18 and 19. Slot 18, as indicated in Figure 2, is vertical and receives a pin 8| secured to the bracket 64. Suitable means is provided to prevent lateral displacement of pin 8| from slot 18 and this structure serves merely as guide means for vertical reciprocation of the bar 11. Slot 19 terminates at its lower end in a lateral offset 82. The pin 13 of arm 14 projects into slot 13 and the bell crank 13 is pivotally movable as the pin 16 follows the contour of slot 19 during vertical reciprocation of bar 11.

As is more or less diagrammatically indicated in Figure 1, the bar 17 is connected through conventional linkage with the voting machine operating lever 83. With the lever 83 in the position shown in Figure 1, bar T! is in the position shown in Figure 8. However, when this lever is moved to the dotted line position, the linkage causes bar T1 to move upwardly, thus rotating bell crank 73, shaft 61, and arms 68 (see Figure 2).

Having described the structure of the inven-- tion, the operation thereof is as follows: For purposes of illustration, it is assumed that there is a group having five offices and that there are ten candidates up for nomination or election to these offices. Thus there will be ten strapsv 6| projecting into the auxiliary interlock II, these straps being connected with the indicators for these candidates through the main straps 53 or in any othersuitable manner. The rollers 26 of the auxiliary interlock are limited to lateral movement in the direction of shoe 21 by a grouping pin 28 and any three auxiliary straps of the ten under consideration may be raised to project the enlarged portions 62 thereof, between the rollers 26, to freely move certain of the rollers without displacing the shoe 21. However, as two more of the auxiliary straps 6! are raised, further lateral movement of the rollers causes shoe erally to the left, as viewed in Figures 2 and 7.

Thus member 33 is laterally adjusted and lugs .5I are moved from beneath the ends of arms 68.

It will be understood that the voter by thus indicating his preference for the same number of candidates as there are ofilces to be filled has adjusted the member 33 to the extent of rendering it ineffective to prevent registering the votes indicated. When the operating lever 33 is moved from the dotted to full line position for the purpose of registering the vote, bar 11' moves from the position of Figure 2 to'that or Figure 8. Arms 68 move from the position of'Figure 4 to that of F e with ut e em we If, however, a voter indicates his preference for any number of candidates less than five in the present illustration, an insuflicient number of auxiliary straps" 6| will have been elevated and the rollers 26 and shoe 2'! will not have moved the member 33 out of the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. Consequently, when the voter operates the lever 83, and through such operation rotates shaft 61, arms 68 being directed over lugs 5| will contact and move said lugs and member 33 vertically downwardly, Such movement of the member 33 causes flange 46 of bar 43 to depress straps 6| by contact with lugs 63. Thus the indicators for a lesser number of candidates than the required five will be returned to non-voted position. It will be understood, of course, that movement of bar 71 occurs almost instantly with the start of movement of lever 83, but before the movement of such lever has caused the remainder of the voters choice to be registered on the counters of the machine.

It is to be noted that the invention is applied to oflice group voting primarily for purposes of illustration and that the structure is applicable in its present or modified form to other voting requirements wherein it is necessary to automatically nullify any part of an incorrectly cast ballot, and that such adaptations or changes in the structure are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for whi h I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine having a plurality of voting straps movable into votin position and a lever adapted to move said straps to non-voting position during a voting cycle, a mechanism comprising an interlock, a bar on said interlock engageable with and operable to move said straps from voting to non-voting position, Spring means yieldingly supporting said bar against both lateral and gravitational displacement, means on said interlock operable by movement of a predetermined number of said straps into voting position laterally displacing said bar, linkage connecting said lever with and operable to verti cally displace said bar, said means, when operated to an extent determined by movement into voting position of a predetermined number of straps, laterally displacing said bar and rendering said linkage inoperative todepress said bar and return said straps to non-voting position.

2. In a voting machine having a plurality of voting straps movable into voting position and a lever adapted to move said straps .to nonvoting position during a voting cycle, a mechanism comprising an interlock, a bar on said interlock engageable with said straps in voting position, means yieldingly positioning said bar against both lateral and gravitational movement with respect to said interlock, a lug carried by said bar, a shaft adjacent said interlock, an arm on said shaft overlying said lug, linkage operatively connecting said shaft with said lever, and means connecting certain of said straps in voting position with said bar, said straps being associated with and adapted to laterally adjust said bar when moved into voting position, adjustment of said bar by movement into voting position of less than a predetermined number of to engage and move said straps rendering said lever operable to rotate said arm, depress said bar, and return said straps to non-votin position.

3. In a voting machine having a plurality of voting straps movable to voting position and a lever adapted to move said straps to non-voting position during a voting cycle, a mechanism comprising an interlock, auxiliary straps operatively connecting said voting straps with said interlock, an adjustable bar mounted on said interlock, a shaft, an arm supported on said shaft and overlying a portion of said bar, and linkage operatively connecting said shaft with said lever, means on said auxiliary straps positioned for operation by said bar when said straps are in voting position, said lever being operable to depress said bar and return said auxiliary strap to non-voting position, additional means in said interlock operable by movement of at least a sufficient number of said auxiliary straps to adjust said bar a distance to render said arm ineffective with respect thereto.

4. In a voting machine having a plurality of voting straps movable into voting position and a lever Operable to move said straps to non-voting position, a control mechanism operatively associated with a group of said straps comprising means engageable with said straps in voting position, linkage rendering said lever operable to move said means and restore voted straps to non-voting position, further means associated with and operable by movement of a predetermined number of said straps into voting position, said further means serving to adjust said means and render said linkage inoperative by operation of said lever to restore said predetermined number of straps to non-voting position.

5. In a voting machine having a plurality of straps movable into voting position and a lever adapted to move said straps to non-voting position during a voting cycle, a control mechanism comprising an interlock associated with said straps, a movable bar carried by said interlock and engageable with said straps in voting position, means associated with said lever and normally operable thereby to engage and actuate said bar to restore any straps in voting position to non-voting position, and additional means actuated by movement of a predetermined number of said straps into voting position, said additional means adjusting said bar and rendering said means inoperative with respect to said bar.

6. In a voting machine having a group of straps movable into voting position and a lever adapted to move said straps to non-voting position during a voting cycle, a mechanism normally preventing the completion of the voting of less than a predetermined number of straps in said group comprising an interlock having means associated with and movable by movement of said straps into voting position, a bar engageable with said straps in voting position, an arm normally operable by said lever through suitable linkage said bar in a direction to restore any voted straps to non-voting position, movement of a predetermined number of said straps into voting position causing said means to adjust said bar in a direction to render said arm ineffective with respect thereto,

ALVIN N. GUSTAVSON. 

